Biography of Eli M. ShawSt Lawrence County, NY Biographies

Shaw, Eli M., Stockholm, was born in Williston, Vt., June 7, 1838, a son of Hon. Daniel Shaw of that town, born
in 1811. He was educated in the schools of Williston, and engaged as clerk at sixteen years of age. After four
years he went to Enosburg Centre, Vt., and engaged in the mercantile business four years. In 1846 he came to Stockholm
and engaged in farming for three years, and then acted as clerk for Curtis Holmes at Stockholm Centre. After two
years he came to Stockholm Depot, and had charge of the Union store for two years, when he and J. W. Sterns bought
out the store and continued until 1865. They then sold to our subject and Frank Hulburd, who, the next year, closed
out the stock to H. M. Hubbard. In February, 1866, Daniel Shaw, J. W. Sterns and E. M. Shaw formed the new company
of Shaw, Sterns & Co., and were in business for three years when Mr. Sterns died and his wife took his place
until 1873. The stock was then sold to O. P. and S. H. Sterns, and then Daniel and and his two sons, Eli M. and
John B. Shaw, engaged in business in the building now occupied by E. M. Shaw. Daniel Sliaw, the father, died in
1884, John B. died in 1875, and E. M. Shaw has since carried on the business alone. Daniel Shaw was twice married,
hrst in 1836 to Sarah Murray of Williston, Vt., by whom he had one son, our subject, Mrs. Shaw died in 1838, and
he married, second, Eunice B. Barnum, a distant relative of P. T. Barnum, and they had one son and two daughters.
Mrs. Shaw died in 1888. Mr. Shaw was a Democrat in early 'ife, but later was a Republican. He was supervisor for
a numl)er of years, justice of the peace for about twelve years and collector for one year. He represented St.
Lawrence county in the Assembly in 1866, served two years and was reelected. He was a member of the I. O. O. F.
at Stockholm Depot. Eli M. was eight years old when he came to Stockholm with his parents. He was educated in the
common schools of the town, and engaged in the mercantile business as mentioned above, having first served as clerk.
He is now the oldest merchant in Stockholm. Mr. Shaw has been twice married, first to Abbie Eldridge, a native
of Brasher, by whom he had one son, John E. Mrs. Shaw died in April, 1884, and in 1885 he mariied Florence Wheeler
of Madrid. Mr. Shaw is a Republican, and was clerk in the postoffice during the Buchanan administration. In 1866
he was appointed assistant postmaster under J. W. Sterns, and held that position until the death of Mr. Sterns,
when he became postmaster until 1874, and then his father held the office until his death and our subject was assistant.
Mr. Shaw was then appointed postmaster and held until Cleveland's administration, when he again became assistant
under H. H. Mullarney, and at the close of his administration Mr. Shaw was appointed postmaster and has since held
that office.

FROM:
Our County and it's people
A memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York
Edited by: Gates Curtis
The Boston History Co., Publishers 1894